Varaha Purana — Chapter 196
VrP 196.1
अथ धर्मराजपुरवर्णनम् ।। वैशम्पायन उवाच ।। तेषां तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा ऋषीणां भावितात्मनाम् ।। उवाच वाक्यं वाक्यज्ञः सर्वं निरवशेषतः
atha dharmarājapuravarṇanam || vaiśampāyana uvāca || teṣāṃ tadvacanaṃ śrutvā ṛṣīṇāṃ bhāvitātmanām || uvāca vākyaṃ vākyajñaḥ sarvaṃ niravaśeṣataḥ
Now the description of the city of the King of Dharma. Vaiśampāyana said: Having heard that speech of those sages of disciplined selves, he who knew (how to) speak spoke the whole account, leaving nothing out.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.2
नाचिकेत उवाच ।। श्रूयतां द्विजशार्दूलाः कथ्यमानं मया द्विजाः ।। योजनानां सहस्रं तु विस्तराद्द्विगुणायतम्
nāciketa uvāca || śrūyatāṃ dvijaśārdūlāḥ kathyamānaṃ mayā dvijāḥ || yojanānāṃ sahasraṃ tu vistarāddviguṇāyatam
Nāciketa said: Let it be heard, O tigers among the twice-born, as it is told by me, O brahmins: (that city is) a thousand yojanas, twice that in extent lengthwise.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.3
द्विगुणं परिवेषेण तद्वै प्रेतपतेः पुरम् ।। भवनैरावृत्तं दिव्यैर्जाम्बूनदमयैः शुभैः
dviguṇaṃ pariveṣeṇa tadvai pretapateḥ puram || bhavanairāvṛttaṃ divyairjāmbūnadamayaiḥ śubhaiḥ
Twice as much in circumference — such is the city of the Lord of the Dead — surrounded by divine, lovely mansions made of gold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.4
हर्म्यप्रासादसंबाधमहाट्टालसमन्वितम् ।। सौवर्णेनैव महता प्राकारेणाभिवेष्टितम्
harmyaprāsādasaṃbādhamahāṭṭālasamanvitam || sauvarṇenaiva mahatā prākāreṇābhiveṣṭitam
Crowded with palaces and mansions, provided with great watchtowers, and encircled by a great wall of gold.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.5
कैलासशिखराकारैर्भवनैरुपशोभितम् ।। तत्र वै विमला नद्यस्तोयपूर्णाः सुशोभनाः
kailāsaśikharākārairbhavanairupaśobhitam || tatra vai vimalā nadyastoyapūrṇāḥ suśobhanāḥ
Adorned with buildings shaped like the peaks of Kailāsa; there indeed are clear rivers, full of water, most beautiful,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.6
दीर्घिकाश्च तथा कान्ता नलिन्यश्च सरांसि च ।। तडागाश्चैव कूपाश्च वृक्षषण्डाः सुशोभनाः
dīrghikāśca tathā kāntā nalinyaśca sarāṃsi ca || taḍāgāścaiva kūpāśca vṛkṣaṣaṇḍāḥ suśobhanāḥ
and likewise lovely oblong pools, and lotus-ponds and lakes, and tanks and wells, and beautiful clusters of trees,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.7
नरनारीसमाकीर्णा गजवाजिसमाकुलाः ।। नानादेशसमुत्थानैर्नानाजातिभिरेव च
naranārīsamākīrṇā gajavājisamākulāḥ || nānādeśasamutthānairnānājātibhireva ca
thronged with men and women, crowded with elephants and horses, with (beings) arisen from various countries and of various castes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.8
सर्वजीवैस्तथाकीर्णं तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमम्।। क्वचिद्युद्धं क्वचिद्द्वंद्वं तेन बद्धो यमालये
sarvajīvaistathākīrṇaṃ tasya rājñaḥ purottamam|| kvacidyuddhaṃ kvaciddvaṃdvaṃ tena baddho yamālaye
That excellent city of that king is thus filled with all living beings: here a battle, there a duel — by that (deed) one is bound in Yama's abode.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.9
क्वचिद्गायन् हसंश्चैव क्वचिद्दुःखेन दुःखितः ।। क्वचित्क्रीडन्यथाकर्म क्वचिद्भुञ्जन् क्वचित्स्वपन्
kvacidgāyan hasaṃścaiva kvacidduḥkhena duḥkhitaḥ || kvacitkrīḍanyathākarma kvacidbhuñjan kvacitsvapan
Somewhere singing and laughing, somewhere pained with pain; somewhere playing according to (his) deeds, somewhere eating, somewhere sleeping —
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.11
स्वकर्मभिः प्रदृश्यन्ते स्थूलाः सूक्ष्माश्च जन्तवः।। मया दृष्टा द्विजश्रेष्ठास्तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमे
svakarmabhiḥ pradṛśyante sthūlāḥ sūkṣmāśca jantavaḥ|| mayā dṛṣṭā dvijaśreṣṭhāstasya rājñaḥ purottame
creatures, gross and subtle, are seen (thus) in accordance with their own deeds: (so) they were seen by me, O best of the twice-born, in that king's excellent city.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.12
अङ्गानि चैव सीदन्ति मनो विह्वलतीव मे ।। दिव्यभावाः स्पृशन्त्येते चिन्तयानस्य तत्फलम्
aṅgāni caiva sīdanti mano vihvalatīva me || divyabhāvāḥ spṛśantyete cintayānasya tatphalam
And my limbs sink down, my mind seems to reel; these divine states touch me as I ponder the fruit of that.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.13
तथापि कथयिष्यामि यथादृष्टं तथाश्रुतम् ।। पुष्पोदका नाम तत्र नदीनां प्रवरा नदी
tathāpi kathayiṣyāmi yathādṛṣṭaṃ tathāśrutam || puṣpodakā nāma tatra nadīnāṃ pravarā nadī
Even so, I shall tell it as I saw it and as I heard it: there is there a river named Puṣpodakā, the foremost of rivers,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.14
दृश्यते न च दृश्येत नानावृक्षसमाकुला ।। सुवर्णकृतसोपाना दिव्यकांचनवालुका
dṛśyate na ca dṛśyeta nānāvṛkṣasamākulā || suvarṇakṛtasopānā divyakāṃcanavālukā
which is seen and yet cannot (quite) be seen, thronged with trees of many kinds, with steps made of gold and with divine golden sand,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.15
प्रसन्नेन च तोयेन शीतलेन सुगन्धिना ।। पुष्प्यत्फलवनाकीर्णा नाना पक्षिसमाकुला
prasannena ca toyena śītalena sugandhinā || puṣpyatphalavanākīrṇā nānā pakṣisamākulā
and with clear water, cool and sweet-smelling; strewn with groves of blossoming fruit-trees, thronged with birds of many kinds,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.16
भ्राजते सरितां श्रेष्ठा सर्वपापप्रणाशिनी ।। तस्यास्तीरे मया दृष्टाः पादपाश्च सहस्रशः
bhrājate saritāṃ śreṣṭhā sarvapāpapraṇāśinī || tasyāstīre mayā dṛṣṭāḥ pādapāśca sahasraśaḥ
she shines, the best of streams, destroyer of all sin. On her bank I saw trees by the thousands,
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.17
अमराः क्रीडमानाश्च जलक्रीडां पुनःपुनः ।। विशालजघना यस्यां गन्धर्वाः सामगा इव
amarāḥ krīḍamānāśca jalakrīḍāṃ punaḥpunaḥ || viśālajaghanā yasyāṃ gandharvāḥ sāmagā iva
and immortals playing at water-sport again and again; in her (are) broad-hipped (women), and gandharvas like chanters of the Sāman.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.18
भुजङ्गावनताङ्ग्यश्च किन्नर्यश्च सुगायनाः ।। दिव्यभूषणसम्भोगैः क्रीडन्त्यत्र समागताः
bhujaṅgāvanatāṅgyaśca kinnaryaśca sugāyanāḥ || divyabhūṣaṇasambhogaiḥ krīḍantyatra samāgatāḥ
And kinnarīs, their limbs bending like serpents, sweet of song, gathered there, play with divine ornaments and divine enjoyments.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.19
एवं नारीसहस्राणि तत्र दिव्यानि नित्यशः ।। क्रीडन्ति सलिले तत्र प्रासादेषु शुभेषु च
evaṃ nārīsahasrāṇi tatra divyāni nityaśaḥ || krīḍanti salile tatra prāsādeṣu śubheṣu ca
Thus thousands of divine women there play constantly, there in the water and in the lovely palaces.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.21
प्रमदाश्च जले तत्र कामरूपाः सुमेखलाः ।। रमयन्त्यो नरास्तत्र यथाकामं यथासुखम्
pramadāśca jale tatra kāmarūpāḥ sumekhalāḥ || ramayantyo narāstatra yathākāmaṃ yathāsukham
And there in the water (are) women who take what form they wish, with beautiful girdles, giving pleasure to the men there as they desire and as they please.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.22
तां नदीं क्षोभयन्त्यस्ताः क्रीडन्ति सहिताः प्रियैः ।। गायन्ति सलिले काश्चिन्मधुरं मधुविह्वलाः
tāṃ nadīṃ kṣobhayantyastāḥ krīḍanti sahitāḥ priyaiḥ || gāyanti salile kāścinmadhuraṃ madhuvihvalāḥ
Churning up that river, they play together with their lovers; some, faint with wine, sing sweetly in the water.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.23
जलतूर्यनिनादेन भूषणानां स्वनेन च ।। भाति सा निम्नगा दिव्या दिव्यरत्नैरलंकृता
jalatūryaninādena bhūṣaṇānāṃ svanena ca || bhāti sā nimnagā divyā divyaratnairalaṃkṛtā
With the sound of water-drums and with the ringing of ornaments that divine stream shines, adorned with divine jewels.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.24
वैवस्वती नाम महानदी सा शुभा नदीनां प्रवराऽतिरम्या ।। प्रयाति मध्ये नगरस्य नित्यं मातेव पुत्रं परिपालयन्ती
vaivasvatī nāma mahānadī sā śubhā nadīnāṃ pravarā'tiramyā || prayāti madhye nagarasya nityaṃ māteva putraṃ paripālayantī
That auspicious great river named Vaivasvatī, foremost of rivers, exceedingly delightful, ever flows through the middle of the city, guarding it as a mother her son.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.25
तोयानुरूपा च मनोहरा च दिव्येन तोयेन सदैव पूर्णा ।। यस्यास्तु हंसाः पुलिनेषु मत्ताः कुन्देन्दुवर्णाः प्रचरन्ति नित्यम्
toyānurūpā ca manoharā ca divyena toyena sadaiva pūrṇā || yasyāstu haṃsāḥ pulineṣu mattāḥ kundenduvarṇāḥ pracaranti nityam
Fitting to her waters and charming, ever full with divine water, on whose sandbanks geese, exhilarated, the colour of jasmine and of the moon, always move about;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.26
रथाङ्गसाह्वैः प्रवरैश्च पद्मैः प्रतप्तजाम्बूनद कर्णिकाभिः ।। या दृश्यते चैव मनोज्ञरूपा सुवर्णसोपानयुता सुकान्ता
rathāṅgasāhvaiḥ pravaraiśca padmaiḥ prataptajāmbūnada karṇikābhiḥ || yā dṛśyate caiva manojñarūpā suvarṇasopānayutā sukāntā
who, with excellent lotuses named after the chariot-wheel, their pericarps of refined gold, is seen delightful of form, furnished with golden steps, most lovely;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.27
यस्यास्तु तोयं विमलं सुगन्धि स्वादु प्रसन्नं त्वमृतोपमं च ।। वृक्षास्तु यस्या वनखण्डजाताः सदा शुभैः पुष्पफलैरुपेता
yasyāstu toyaṃ vimalaṃ sugandhi svādu prasannaṃ tvamṛtopamaṃ ca || vṛkṣāstu yasyā vanakhaṇḍajātāḥ sadā śubhaiḥ puṣpaphalairupetā
whose water is spotless, fragrant, sweet, clear and like nectar; whose trees, grown in the stretches of forest, are always laden with fair flowers and fruits;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.28
नार्यः सुरूपा मदविह्वलाश्च क्रीडन्ति ता यत्र मनोज्ञरूपाः ।। यस्यां जनः क्रीडनताडनाद्यैर्विवर्णतां याति न वै कदाचित्
nāryaḥ surūpā madavihvalāśca krīḍanti tā yatra manojñarūpāḥ || yasyāṃ janaḥ krīḍanatāḍanādyairvivarṇatāṃ yāti na vai kadācit
where beautiful women, faint with intoxication and delightful of form, play; in whom people never at all lose their colour from sporting, striking, and the rest;
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.29
या देवतानामपि पूजनीया तपोनिधीनां च तथा मुनीनाम् ।। या दृश्यते तोयभरेण कान्ताकृतिः कवीनामिव निर्मलार्था
yā devatānāmapi pūjanīyā taponidhīnāṃ ca tathā munīnām || yā dṛśyate toyabhareṇa kāntākṛtiḥ kavīnāmiva nirmalārthā
who is to be honoured even by the gods and likewise by the sages, those treasuries of austerity; who, with her burden of water, is seen lovely in form, like the spotless meaning of poets.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.31
वादित्रगीतस्वनतालयुक्ता गायन्ति नार्यः सहिताः सदा हि ।। कन्याकुलानां मृदुभाषितानि मनोहराणां च वनेषु तेषु
vāditragītasvanatālayuktā gāyanti nāryaḥ sahitāḥ sadā hi || kanyākulānāṃ mṛdubhāṣitāni manoharāṇāṃ ca vaneṣu teṣu
Joined to the sound and measure of instruments and song, the women there sing together always; and the soft speech of the throngs of charming maidens in those woods
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.32
कुर्वन्ति संहर्षमिव स्वनेन मनोज्ञरूपा दिवि देवतानाम् ।। मृदङ्गनादश्च सुतन्त्रियुक्तगीतध्वनिश्चैव सुवंशयुक्तः
kurvanti saṃharṣamiva svanena manojñarūpā divi devatānām || mṛdaṅganādaśca sutantriyuktagītadhvaniścaiva suvaṃśayuktaḥ
— they, delightful of form, with their sound produce, as it were, the joy of the gods in heaven; and the beat of the mṛdaṅga, and the sound of singing joined with fine strings and with fine flutes.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.33
प्रासादकुञ्जेषु विहार्यमाणा न तृप्तिमेवं बहु ताः प्रयान्ति ।। गन्धः सुगन्धोऽगुरुचन्दनानां वातः शुभो वाति सुशीतमन्दः
prāsādakuñjeṣu vihāryamāṇā na tṛptimevaṃ bahu tāḥ prayānti || gandhaḥ sugandho'gurucandanānāṃ vātaḥ śubho vāti suśītamandaḥ
Sporting in the bowers of the palaces they do not, for all that much, come to satiety. The sweet scent of aloewood and sandal (is there); a fair wind blows, very cool and gentle.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition
VrP 196.34
क्वचित् सुगन्धः प्रचचार भूयः प्रासादरोधं प्रविरूढमार्गः ।। क्वचिज्जनाः क्रीडनकावसक्ताः क्वचिच्च नारीनरगीतशब्दाः
kvacit sugandhaḥ pracacāra bhūyaḥ prāsādarodhaṃ pravirūḍhamārgaḥ || kvacijjanāḥ krīḍanakāvasaktāḥ kvacicca nārīnaragītaśabdāḥ
In one place the fragrance spread further still, its path grown up as far as the barrier of the palace; in one place people were intent on their games, and in another there were the sounds of the singing of women and men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.35
तथाऽपरे क्रीडनकाः सकान्ताः सुवर्णवेदीकृतसानुशोभाः ।। विमानभूताः प्रचरन्ति तोये प्रमत्तनारीनरसंकुलाश्च
tathā'pare krīḍanakāḥ sakāntāḥ suvarṇavedīkṛtasānuśobhāḥ || vimānabhūtāḥ pracaranti toye pramattanārīnarasaṃkulāśca
And likewise other pleasure-craft, together with their (lovely) mistresses, splendid with terraced ridges made of golden platforms, moving over the water like flying palaces, thronged with drunken women and men.
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain
VrP 196.36
शक्यो विभागो न हि रम्यताया ह्यसौ दिनैर्वा बहुभिः प्रवक्तुम् ।। नैषा कथा कर्मसमाधियुक्ता शक्त्या प्रवक्तुं दिवसैरनल्पैः
śakyo vibhāgo na hi ramyatāyā hyasau dinairvā bahubhiḥ pravaktum || naiṣā kathā karmasamādhiyuktā śaktyā pravaktuṃ divasairanalpaiḥ
— tr. refused: cyber
VrP 196.196
क्वचिन्नृत्यन्क्वचित्तिष्ठन् क्वचिद्बन्धनसंस्थितः ।। एवं शतसहस्राणि तस्य राज्ञः पुरोत्तमे तत्रापरे वृक्षषण्डा नित्यपुष्पफलान्विताः ।। ते च कामप्रदा नित्यं तथा द्विजसमायुताः जलं च दत्तं बहुभिर्नरैश्च तस्याः स्वरूपप्रतिमा च निष्ठा ।। प्रासादपङ्क्तिर्ज्वलनप्रकाशा तस्यास्तु तीरे बहुभक्तिरम्याः
kvacinnṛtyankvacittiṣṭhan kvacidbandhanasaṃsthitaḥ || evaṃ śatasahasrāṇi tasya rājñaḥ purottame tatrāpare vṛkṣaṣaṇḍā nityapuṣpaphalānvitāḥ || te ca kāmapradā nityaṃ tathā dvijasamāyutāḥ jalaṃ ca dattaṃ bahubhirnaraiśca tasyāḥ svarūpapratimā ca niṣṭhā || prāsādapaṅktirjvalanaprakāśā tasyāstu tīre bahubhaktiramyāḥ
Somewhere dancing, somewhere standing still, somewhere fixed in bonds — thus (there are) hundreds of thousands (of such figures) in that king's foremost city. There, further, (are) thickets of trees ever endowed with flowers and fruit; and these are always granters of desires, and likewise frequented by birds (or: by brahmins). And water was given by many men, and there stands an image in her own likeness; and on her bank (is) a row of palaces bright as fire, lovely with their many tiers (or: with much devotion).
AI translation rendered from the Sanskrit, not a published edition — the model flagged this verse as uncertain